NCDA Strongly Urging Producers to have Corn Tested for Aflatoxin
As corn harvest wraps up, North Carolina Department of Agriculture is strongly encouraging corn producers to have their grain tested for Aflatoxin. George Ferguson, feed compliance officer in the food and drug division with NCDA:
“It’s no different than most years. In the southeast aflatoxin is prevalent. We like to know that the corn moving through the markets is safe.”
Ferguson outlines the procedures for submitting a corn sample for testing:
“We ask that farmers take a representative sample from different bins and locations. We need about a quart sized sample per location. The paper work is at ncfeedandforage.com. There is no charge. The results are returned to the farmer.”
Many producers have several fields that aren’t necessarily connected. Ferguson has this suggestion:
“If they have the ability to sample before mixing multiple fields in to a bin and identify fields that are at risk, they can save some value for their product and have each field sampled separately.”
Ferguson says when it comes to making the decision to test a field or not, better safe than sorry:
“If you have had a history then those fields should be tested. It’s a simple process so let’s test it all.”
George Ferguson, feed compliance officer in the food and drug division with NCDA.
Again, the paperwork to submit corn for testing can be found at ncfeedandforage.com.
A native of the Texas Panhandle, Rhonda was born and raised on a cotton farm where she saw cotton farming evolve from ditch irrigation to center pivot irrigation and harvest trailers to modules. After graduating from Texas Tech University, she got her start in radio with KGNC News Talk 710 in Amarillo, Texas.
